By Wilson Asiimwe
Animal prices in Hoima city have more than doubled as Muslims celebrate Eid, which requires them to slaughter animals while commemorating prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice in the Koran.
According to Ibrahim Magezi, a resident of Kinubi, prices of most animals slaughtered have gone up at Hoima abattoir and most major meat butcheries.
“A cow of about 100kg, which used to cost about shillings 1.2 million has now gone up to about shillings two million, which has in turn raised the cost of meat. A kilogram of meat now goes for about shillings 16,000,” Magezi said.
He added that the cost of goats and sheep has also increased and some families didn’t have any animals to slaughter.
The cost of sheep shot up from shillings 100,000 to 200,000, while the price of goats shot up from shillings 150,000 to 300,000.
Moses Musinguzi, the chairperson of the meat section at Hoima Central Market, said the price of meat shot up because the animals have become scarce.
“Animals are very scarce and the few which are available are too expensive. We have to hike the prices in order to get some profits,” he said.
Sheik Musa Babanja, Hoima district Khadi asked the Muslims not to slaughter animals which are not fit to be offered to God.
“The Koran is very clear that if it’s a Camel, it must be of five years, a goat must be of one year and a sheep must be of six months [and above] those intending to offer animals outside that circle will have done nothing. They better stop,” he said.
He said they had received 700 cows from the Government of Turkey, which they are slaughtering and distributing to the people.
